Yesterday a Pittsburgher named Aimee, a wife and mother of two young boys, died after having a stroke. I'd guess she was my age, somewhere in her 30s. It's unfair and awful and I'm having a hard time making any sense of it whatsoever.
I met Aimee once, at a yoga class. She and I both volunteered to help out with yoga for first graders at Kate's school. Her son was in Kate's class.
After my kids died and I started my blog Aimee became a regular reader and commented often. Sometimes she would share stories her son would tell about Kate. Other times she'd offer words of support and encouragement, or tell me how much my journey had impacted her role as a mother. Her words, as do all of the comments on my blog, mean so much to me. I wish I could have done something to help her.
Yesterday, after I'd learned she was in the hospital on life-support, but before I knew she had died, I started reading through her comments. I clicked on her blogger profile link, to learn a little more about her, and saw that she started her own blog. The last post is titled, "I hope I don't die waiting for health-care reform to happen". Please take a moment to read it. She did die. And she didn't have health insurance. And now her two boys are gonna grow up without their Mama.
Please, please pray for her sons and their dad. Please send them all the love you can. If there is anything else that can be done to help, I will let you know. I know her family has to raise money to pay her hospital bills. That's a real kick in the face.
There is one other thing you can do. You can vote tomorrow. Health care reform is one of the hot issues in this election and the only way to make a difference is to vote. Please vote and please remember Aimee.
Oh, how sad. My heart goes out to her children.
ReplyDeleteThat really sucks. I mean that more respectively than it probably sounds.
ReplyDeleteI won't go into what I think about health care reform, but I am very sad about the loss of your friend. No one should ever die so young... and the thought that her death could have been prevented possibly is just heart-wrenching. I hope that her two little ones and her husband get through this time of sadness... God bless them all!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said Amy. You have honored Aimee and her family.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if she had health insurance she wouldn't have had to monitor her own BP and her stroke could have been avoided?! Health Care Reform is a hot button topic and people feel very strongly on both sides. Here is what I know: Everyone deserves health care. Every man, woman and child. Aimee's story made me want to vote tomorrow when earlier today I almost posted my facebook status as not voting tomorrow because I want to give the middle finger to all these political ads. I changed my mind.
ReplyDeleteMan, this is just heartbreaking. Please let me (us) know if any thing goes up to raise money for not only her kids' future education costs, but to cover any of her family's expenses.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly tragic. Sending all good thoughts your way.
Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow terrible. Her family is definitely in my thoughts. So sad and, yes, I'll vote with her story (and others like it) in mind.
ReplyDeleteHow terribly sad and unfortunate. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
ReplyDeleteI read in the Pgh Catholic how Joe Sestak's daughter would not be alive today if not for his health care plan from the military. He got into politics so others could have affordable, quality, accessible healthcare. Despite the issues I have with the health care bill, what he said really resonated with me.